Saco Mayoral candidate McIntosh Q&A

In the town of Saco, the position of Mayor is up for grabs. Incumbent Mayor Clinton Simpson is seeking reelection and LA (Mac) McIntosh is the challenger. A communication miscue between the PCN and mayoral candidate McIntosh unfortunately led to the omission of his questions and answer feature last week. What follows are McIntosh's answers to the same set of five questions answered last week by Mayor Simpson (which can be found online at phillipscountynews.com under the headline "Town of Saco race for mayor features two, three vie for two council spots.")

LA (Mac) McIntosh

1. What is your motivation for running for office?

1. Though many people have urged me over the past several years to run for Mayor, I originally planned to submit my intent to run for a seat on the Town Council. Less than a week prior to the deadline for candidate submissions, I learned that no one had submitted their intention of running for Mayor. After asking several questions I learned if no one submitted their intent to run for Mayor, a Mayor would be appointed by the city council. The residents of Saco have already experienced that procedure and I would rather give them the opportunity of choice.

2. What would you do to see those issues or concerns taken care of?

2. Before issues or concerns can be addressed, each needs to be collected and identified by talking to the residents of our community, viewing past actions, procedures, policies and the results which affected our town and residents. I believe there is a need to create better avenues of communication between the Mayor, the Council and the residents we are all here to serve. I believe every resident of our community deserves to be kept informed whether they choose to attend the monthly town meetings or not. I believe in and would encourage a system of complete transparency.

3. What skills or attributes make you a good candidate for the position?

3. I owned and operated a Drywall Construction company for many years hiring, training and supervising several employees. I kept accurate books and payroll information as required by law. I worked for 14 years with my own corporation designing and maintaining computer databases while still working for over 27 years in the Airline Industry. I am currently teaching Shop classes at the Saco School where students not only learn the importance of safety, but also how to create and build a variety of projects. I teach the students what I learned and taught my former employees, which is how much can be accomplished through diligence and hard work as well as the benefits of working as a team.

4. Can you name a person who has had a tremendous impact on you as a leader? Maybe someone who has been a mentor to you? Why and how did this person impact your life?

4. There is no single person or a certain experience that has impacted or defined my life or my abilities as a leader that is more important than the other. It’s an accumulative process that has involved many people and experiences throughout my life. I have been blessed to have kind, compassionate, honest and loving people around me throughout my life who taught me there was always more to learn and to treat others with the respect and kindness which everyone deserves.

5. Closing comment(s):

Should the good residents of Saco elect me as their next Mayor I will incorporate all of the positive skills I have learned throughout the years to build an Office based on transparency, honesty, integrity and respect. I firmly believe the Mayor working as a team with the members of the Town Council need to obtain and maintain a successful relationship within our community by listening and addressing the concerns of every resident in a timely and respectful manner.